Liberty criticises Croydon’s fixed facial recognition cameras

Responding to news fixed facial recognition cameras have been put up in Croydon, Sam Grant, Liberty director of external affairs, said:

“The escalation of surveillance in Croydon with fixed facial recognition cameras undermines the rights of local residents, and it should worry all of us that police use of this tech is being expanded when there are no clear laws or safeguards to protect our rights.

“Facial recognition technology allows police to track and monitor every one of us while we go about our daily lives. Walking past a camera is like showing your ID at a checkpoint, something most of us don’t want to have to do in order to go to the shops.

“Fixed cameras are a huge -step change in how police use this tech. The Government must follow the example of other countries who have put laws in place around how facial recognition is used by police, and which contain robust safeguards around our rights.”